LEDER: Presidential candidate Alexander Stubb. Photo: LEHTIKUVA / Reuters / NTB
The forecasts of the Finnish broadcaster Yle show that the two candidates will win the first round.
Published:
Less than 2 hours ago
Updated less than 10 minutes ago
The former prime minister, Alexander Stubb, received 28.3 percent of the advance vote.
The polling stations closed at 20:00 local time. The Finns are an hour ahead.
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Close behind is former foreign minister Pekka Haavisto with 25.8 percent of the advance votes.
The third candidate, Jussi Halla-aho, received 16.1 percent of the vote.
The counting of the votes cast on election day Sunday continues throughout the evening and night.
Yells forecasts show that Stubb and Haavisto will advance to the next round.
TO BE REPLACED: Finnish President Sauli Niinistö casts his vote on Sunday. Photo: Mauri Ratilainen / EPA / NTB
Heading into the second round of voting
In the Finnish presidential system, the election system is such that if none of the candidates gets more than 50 percent, a second round of elections is held.
The second round of voting will take place on 11 February, writes HBL.
At 19.15 Norwegian time, 61.1 percent of the votes have been counted, according to Yells results service.
Political scientist Göran Djupsund tells Swedish Yle that Stubb has very good chances of making it to the second round of the election.
The preliminary results come as no surprise as Stubb has been leading in the opinion polls.
– He has extensive experience with the matters that are on the president’s table. He is extremely skilled in languages and has a broad international network, says Djupsund.
VETERAN: Pekka Haavisto. Photo: Antti Aimo-Koivisto / AP / NTB
The other two
Haavisto (65), for his part, is a veteran in Finnish politics. He was first elected to the National Assembly for De Gröna in 1987. In this election, he stands as an independent candidate.
The nationalist party Sannfinnen’s presidential candidate is 52-year-old Jussi Halla-aho. He is currently the President of the National Assembly and has previously been a member of the EU Parliament.
PRESIDENT I 12 years: Sauli Niinistö. Photo: PETRAS MALUKAS / AFP / NTB
Have to deal with Russia
The President of Finland is commander-in-chief of the armed forces and manages foreign policy in cooperation with the government. Less than a year after Finland joined NATO, many are therefore excited about who will take over from Niinistö.
Among other things, the new president must deal with the relationship with Russia, which has become much worse after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
A new round of voting is needed to choose the successor if none of the candidates gets more than 50 percent in the first round. The winner takes over from Sauli Niinistö, who has been president for twelve years.
The Finnish constitution limits the presidential term to a maximum of two consecutive terms.
Published:
Published: 28.01.24 at 19:02
Updated: 28.01.24 at 20:12